Method and device for packing articles

ABSTRACT

Collection assembly for collecting and stacking articles. The articles are first moved adjacent to one another with the aid of positioning elements. The positioning elements comprise the conveyor belt that extends obliquely with respect to the distribution conveyor and that can be moved over the distribution conveyor to a greater or lesser extent. After bringing the articles into a row on a discharge plate, these are stacked, optionally via a buffer plate, on a lift plate and after the stack has been compressed to some extent this stack is slid into the box in such a way that the products concerned are placed vertically in the box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for distributing articles overa moving surface, comprising positioning means extending obliquely withrespect to the direction of movement of said moving surface and guidingsaid articles, said positioning means comprising a moving driven belt,guided around a roller close to the free end, for said articles, thedirection of movement of said belt having a component that correspondsto the direction of movement of said moving surface and said belt beingable to be moved in a direction having a component perpendicular to thedirection of movement of said moving surface into a position in which atleast one article on said moving surface can still be moved along thefree end of the belt.

A device of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,572 A.

Devices of this type are used for placing articles on a conveyor belt inthe transverse direction in a specific sequence. Such devices are alsoknown by the general term “lane divider”.

In the case of the device described in said U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,572 anauxiliary conveyor belt extending obliquely with respect to the conveyorbelt (lane) is disclosed. The engagement surface of said auxiliaryconveyor belt has a component of movement in the direction of movementof the main conveyor belt (lane). The auxiliary conveyor belt isprovided with two ends: a free end that is positioned a greater orlesser distance over the main conveyor belt and a fixed end. Thisauxiliary conveyor belt is able to swing about the fixed end.

It has been found that when transporting articles such as bags of crispsor other articles there is a risk that when the free end is moved into aposition in which it extends over a larger portion of the main conveyorbelt, the bags are subject to turning around the free end. As a resultthe movement for displacing the articles in the transverse directionwith respect to the main conveyor belt is not obtained as desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,093,236 discloses a set of auxiliary conveyor beltsextending obliquely with respect to the main conveyor, which auxiliaryconveyor belts are arranged on either side of the main conveyor. Theseauxiliary conveyor belts can be moved towards one another in a straightline in order thus to “close off” the main conveyor. As a result allarticles on the main conveyor are forced to move to a further mainconveyor that extends at an angle with respect to the first mainconveyor. In this case it is not movement of articles onto the mainconveyor that is concerned, but movement of the articles from the mainconveyor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to avoid this disadvantage.

This aim is realised with a device as described above in that the freeend of said belt can be moved back and forth in the direction ofmovement of said belt.

As indicated above, the engagement surface extends obliquely withrespect to the direction of movement of the distribution conveyor.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, this angle isapproximately 35°. If a larger angle is chosen, turning of the products,that is to say a rotary movement of the products, can arise in the caseof certain products. On the other hand, if the angle becomes too smallthe desired effect of movement of the products will no longer takeplace. The various aspects are very highly dependent on the shape andthe weight of the product, speed of movement and the like.

According to the present invention the positioning means are preferablycontrolled in such a way that in the starting position these extend overa large portion of the distribution conveyor. On retraction a series ofproducts lying alongside one another is thus produced. From theretracted position the positioning means are moved into the startingposition described above. Retraction takes place relatively quickly.Preferably this speed is so high that the new position is obtained inthe length of time between the arrival of two successive products. Theadditional movement can be conducted at much lower speed.

Using the device described above a movement of, for example, 140 stepsper minute, that is to say 140 products per minute, is achievable usingthe positioning means. With this arrangement the retraction, that is tosay withdrawal, of the positioning means from the distribution conveyortakes place at a speed of, for example, 3 m/s and an acceleration of 40m/s². Movement with a larger surface over the distribution conveyor canbe carried out at a speed of 1 m/s and an acceleration of 4 m/s².

The engagement surface of the positioning means can comprise anyconstruction known in the state of the art, such as wheels, ballbearings and the like. These then may or may not be driven. According toan advantageous embodiment, the positioning means comprise a positioningbelt that is driven in such a way that the products are as far aspossible moved in the direction of movement of the distributionconveyor. Because of the existence of as small as possible a differencein speed between the positioning means and the distribution conveyor,turning of articles on the distribution conveyor can be prevented. Thevarious aspects are, of course, highly dependent on the speed and theshape of the article. By moving the positioning means in this way it ispossible to prevent these engaging an article in an undesired manner.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a distributionconveyor with positioning means as described above, as well as acollection/deposition device comprising a discharge plate that can bemoved essentially in the direction of movement of said distributionconveyor, as well as a stop for retaining said articles and allowingsaid plate to pass by. That is to say, the articles positioned alongsideone another are (successively) placed on the discharge plate that formspart of the collection/deposition device and, if a row is full, thedischarge plate is moved, essentially in the opposite direction to thatof the distribution conveyor, underneath said distribution conveyor pasta stop plate, during which operation the products placed in a row willdrop downwards under the effect of gravity.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, these productsfirst drop onto a buffer plate. It is, for example, possible to storetwo series of horizontal rows of products in the vertical direction onthe buffer plate. According to an advantageous embodiment of theinvention the products are then transferred to a lift plate. The liftplate is loaded until a sufficient number of series are on top of oneanother in order, for example, to be able to fill a box or the like. Theseries of rows are then preferably compressed somewhat with such a liftplate, as a result of which introduction into a box or the like isfacilitated and a separate device provides for displacement of theseries of rows of articles. Such displacement preferably takes place inthe horizontal direction. That is to say, a box or other storage mediumis positioned with the opening thereof in the vertical plane. Duringthis operation for placing articles in a box or the like, the bufferdevice can temporarily collect the continuing stream of articlesoriginating from the discharge device.

It must be understood that the mechanism of the collection/depositiondevice described above can also be used in combination with otherdevices for distributing articles over a horizontal surface. After all,it is quite possible that the articles are in line on the distributiondevice in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of thedistribution device, so that they pass simultaneously or essentiallysimultaneously onto the discharge plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference toan illustrative embodiment shown in the figures. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows, highly diagrammatically, a perspective view of the deviceaccording to the invention with the positioning means in a firstposition;

FIG. 2 shows the device according to FIG. 1 with positioning means in asecond position;

FIG. 3 shows the device according to FIG. 1 with the positioning meansin a third position;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the collection/deposition device whenremoving the first series of products;

FIG. 5 shows the device according to FIG. 4 when the buffer device isfull;

FIG. 6 shows the device according to FIG. 4 when filling a box; and

FIG. 7 shows the mechanical construction of the positioning belt 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 the assembly according to the invention is indicated by 1.This consists of a distribution conveyor 2 that is able to circulate, ina manner not shown in more detail, around the shafts 3 and 4.Furthermore, there is a construction, that is not shown, by means ofwhich shaft 4 can be moved in the horizontal direction. The direction ofmovement of distribution conveyor 2 is indicated by arrow 10.

5 indicates a feed conveyor via which articles 6 are fed. 7 indicates apositioning belt which executes a rotary movement according to arrow 8.This entire positioning belt 7 can be moved in accordance with arrow 9.Preferably the movement takes place with the aid of a servomechanism,but it is also possible to control the various features pneumatically orhydraulically.

In FIG. 1 a discharge plate is indicated by 13 and a stop plate by 12.By varying the position of shaft 4 the distance between the depositionpoint of the distribution conveyor 2 and the stop plate 12 can bevaried, which means that shorter or longer articles can be positioned onthe discharge plate 13.

In FIG. 1 the position is shown in which the positioning belt 7 extendsa long way over the distribution belt 2. In this position the products 6are moved along the positioning belt 7. The engagement surface thereofmoves at a speed that has a component in the longitudinal directionwhich essentially corresponds to the speed of movement in thelongitudinal direction of the distribution belt 2. The angle that thepositioning belt 7 makes with the direction of movement of distributionconveyor 2 is approximately 35°.

Article 6 is also able to move along 7 when the step change is made. Thedifference is that 6 is released from 7 at an earlier point in time.

Subsequently, as can be seen from FIG. 2, as the next article 6approaches positioning belt 7 is retracted one step with the aid of theservo device or the like. Preferably retraction takes place at such aspeed that the new position is assumed before the next article 6 reachesthe positioning belt. As a result, this next article 6 will bepositioned adjacent to the previous article 6. In FIG. 3 the nextposition shown is the position in which positioning belt 7 has beenbrought furthest inwards. If the positioning belt executes such amovement, a full row of articles 6 can be positioned alongside oneanother on the discharge plate 13. After the end position shown in FIG.3 has been reached, the positioning belt 7 will move rapidly, that is tosay at a speed of movement of the free front end such that a productmoving on the distribution belt 2 does not pass beyond this front end,into the position in FIG. 1 where it will come to a halt. The rotarymovement of the belt 7 is maintained during this operation. The speed ofmovement for moving from the position shown in FIG. 3 into the positionin FIG. 1 will in general be much lower than the retracting movement ofthe front of positioning belt 7 that has been described above. Afterall, time is available for transporting the article further downstream.The article 6 then moves on and reaches the furthest left position onthe discharge plate.

A row of articles can be formed continuously in this way.

The collection/deposition device is shown in side view in FIGS. 4–6.This device consists of the discharge plate 13 described above, whichcan be moved in the direction of arrow 21. A buffer plate 14, which canbe moved in the direction of arrow 22, is located beneath said dischargeplate 13. A lift plate 15, the height of which is adjustable with theaid of a control 16 shown diagrammatically, is located beneath saidbuffer plate 14. In addition there is a pusher plate 17 that can bemoved by control 18. A feed for boxes 19, such that the opening 20thereof is essentially vertical, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Starting from the point at which a series of articles 6 is positioned ondischarge plate 13, this discharge plate 13 is moved to the left in thedirection of arrow 21 as shown in FIG. 4. As a result the row ofarticles drops down over a distance twice the height thereof onto thebuffer plate 14. Damage to packaging and product, such as snacks andmore particularly crisps, is avoided as a result of this small drop.

A similar operation then takes place again until two series of rows ofarticles are on the buffer plate 14. Thereafter, or even before this,the lift plate 15 is moved upwards and the two series of rows ofarticles are transferred when buffer plate 14 is moved in the directionof arrow 22. The buffer plate remains in the open position until aseries of rows of products corresponding to the desired number ofproducts to be placed in the box 19 is present on the lift plate 15.This is shown in FIG. 6. The buffer plate then moves into the closedposition. Some compression of the series of rows of products is thencarried out with the aid of control 16. This is, of course, dependent onthe product concerned. The articles are pressed against the closedbuffer plate to some extent. The lifting device 16 is then moved backsomewhat so that pusher plate 17 can push the series of rows of productsto the right into box 19 with the aid of control 18. In the interim,buffer plate 14 is filled in the manner described above. In this way itis possible to fill boxes with products continuously. These will beplaced “upright” in the boxes. It is also possible to place two layersof products standing on top of one another in box 19. The device shownhere can be of particularly compact construction.

In the above figures the positioning belt 7 is always showndiagrammatically. A practical embodiment thereof is shown highlydiagrammatically in FIG. 7. The positioning belt 7 runs on two rollers27 which are a fixed distance apart and rotate freely in frame 26. Frame26 is joined via columns 28 to a movable carriage 29.

Rollers 27 are driven by belt 35 which, in turn, is driven by the pulley31 of a fixed motor 30, shown only in part. As carriage 29 moves backand forth the drive pulley 31 of fixed motor 30 is in differentpositions with respect to frame 26.

Carriage 29, and thus belt 7, are moved back and forth with the aid of abelt 32 that is driven by a servomotor 33. Servomotor 33 is on the fixedframe 34. As a result of moving belt 32 back and forth carriage 29, andthus frame 26 and consequently belt 7, move back and forth. Therelatively heavy motor 30 is fixed, as a result of which the servomotor33 can be of relatively lightweight construction. Movement of the slider29 has no effect on movement of belt 35, that is to say belt 7. That isto say, the speed of the belt 7 remains constant during movement of saidbelt 7 with respect to the horizontal transport surface.

Using the present invention it is also possible to place products offsetwith respect to one another. This can be effected by appropriate controlof the positioning belt. Further variants will be immediately apparentto those skilled in the art on reading the above description and fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

1. Device for distributing articles over a moving surface, comprising; amoving driven belt extending obliquely with respect to a direction ofmovement of a moving surface and guiding articles on the moving surface,said belt being guided around a roller close to a free end, a directionof movement of said belt having a component that corresponds to thedirection of movement of said moving surface, said roller being movableobliquely, in the direction of movement of said belt, into a position inwhich at least one article on said moving surface can move around thefree end, wherein said belt is fitted on a movable frame, and furthercomprising two separate motors, one of said motors for driving said beltand another of said motors for moving the frame.
 2. Collection assemblycomprising: a device for distributing articles over a moving surfacethat comprises a moving driven belt extending obliquely with respect toa direction of movement of a moving surface and guiding articles on themoving surface, said belt being guided around a roller close to a freeend, a direction of movement of said belt having a component thatcorresponds to the direction of movement of said moving surface, saidroller being movable obliquely, in the direction of movement of saidbelt, into a position in which at least one article on said movingsurface can move around the free end; and a collection/deposition devicefor receiving and then depositing articles received from said movingsurface, wherein said collection/deposition device comprises a dischargeplate that can be moved in a direction opposed to the direction ofmovement of said moving surface, the collection assembly furthercomprising a buffer device for receiving said articles from saidcollection/deposition device, which buffer device comprises a bufferplate arranged below said discharge plate.
 3. Collection assemblycomprising: a device for distributing articles over a moving surfacethat comprises a moving driven belt extending obliquely with respect toa direction of movement of a moving surface and guiding articles on themoving surface, said belt being guided around a roller close to a freeend, a direction of movement of said belt having a component thatcorresponds to the direction of movement of said moving surface, saidroller being movable obliquely, in the direction of movement of saidbelt, into a position in which at least one article on said movingsurface can move around the free end; and a collection/deposition devicefor receiving and then depositing articles received from said movingsurface, wherein said collection/deposition device comprises a dischargeplate that can be moved in a direction opposed to the direction ofmovement of said moving surface, the collection assembly furthercomprising a lift plate arranged to support a stack of articlesoriginating from said collection/deposition device, which lift plate isconstructed such that it is able to move vertically.
 4. A device fordistributing articles over a moving surface, comprising; a belt assemblyhaving a first belt that is guided around two rollers that define alongitudinal axis of said belt assembly, the longitudinal axis extendingobliquely across a direction of movement of the moving surface, saidfirst belt being arranged and adapted to guide articles on the movingsurface; and a movable carriage from which said belt assembly dependsand that moves said belt assembly back and forth along the longitudinalaxis so that an end of said belt assembly over the moving surfacedefines a location of an article on the moving surface.
 5. The device ofclaim 4, further comprising a frame with a second belt that is alignedparallel to the longitudinal axis and to which said movable carriage isattached so that said belt assembly moves relative to said frame.
 6. Thedevice of claim 5, further comprising a motor that is attached to saidframe and drives said first belt, wherein a location of said motorrelative to said belt assembly changes as said movable carriage moves.